Charles hoffman



(No Model.)

0. HOFFMAN. DOOR BRAGE.

No. 659.382. l Patented May 5,1896.

AN DREW BJBHAHAM. FHOTOUTHQWASMNEIDIQ. [1.0.

UNITED STATES PATENT I OFFICE.

CHARLES HOFFMAN, OF SPOKANE, WVASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOCHARLES LIFTOHILD, OF SAME PLACE.

DOOR-BRACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 559,382, dated May 5,1896. A lication filed December 30,1895. Serial No. 573,773. (NoinodeL)To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES HOFFMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Spokane, in the county of Spokane and State of Washington,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Door-Braces; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same. The object of thisinvention is to produce a simple and efficient door-brace which iscapable of being folded into small compass and carried in the pocketwhen not in use.

A device embodying the invention will be hereinafter fully set forth andclaimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a side elevation of such a device as applied to the bottomof an ordinary door. Fig. 2 is a sectional view in the line (13 m ofFig. 3 as in the act of applying the same to a door. Fig. 3 is a planview of the same. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the same closed. Fig. 5is a similar view of an improved form of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, A designates the lower end of a door, and the line Bthe surface of the floor.

The door-brace, which is made of steel, consists of a hooked andbifurcated abutment O, a connecting-link D, and a spur E, adapted toengage the floor by its outer pointed end. These parts are hingedtogether in a manner similar to the structure of a combinationpocket-knife, as will be seen. The link D is pivoted at at near theclosed end of the abutment 0 and between the legs thereof, whichterminate in angular projections c c to engage the bottom of the doorand prevent the abutment from slipping up on the face thereof. The otherend of the link is formed like an ordinary knife-blade shank and ispivoted to the spur E at c. This is provided with a spring F, similar tothe spring of a knifehandle, suitably fastened by rivets f f. Theextreme end of the spur preferably forms two prongs or tangs, as shownin Fig. 3, which are adapted to penetrate the floor a short distance andhold the door securely closed when set in the position shown in Fig. 1.

WVhen not in use, the article folds up completely, as shown in Figs. 4and 5, and may then be conveniently carried in the pocket.

In the improved form shown in Fig. 5 the tangs are hooked a little at e,so as the better to enter the floor, and the body of the spur E, whichismade considerably wider, .so as to meet or nearly meet the abutment inthe folded position, is notched at e to receive the hooks c c.

The jointed structure of the device is not only advantageous when not inuse, but affords a very simple and efficient means for applying it to adoor as a brace against intruders. This will be apparent by reference toFig. 2, Where the apparatus is placed in the position preliminary tobracing the door. By pressing down on the joint e the points of the spurare forced in to the floor, and the door is pressed closely against itsstops, thus holding it securely against rattling, as well as againstburglars or other intruders.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. A door-brace composed ofan abutment with a hook at the lower end to engage the bottom of thedoor, a link hinged to the abut 8o ment near its upper end, and a spurof practically the same length as the link hinged to it with arule-joint whereby the link and spur form a rigid brace when inpractically a straight line, the whole being adapted to fold together,with the upper end of the abutment at one end and the rule-joint at theother, as described.

2. In a door-brace, the combination of a bifurcated abutment adapted toengage the 0 lower end ofthe door, a link hinged between the legsthereof, a spur hinged to the other end of said link and provided with aspring of the link, the device being adapted to fold to engage a notchin said link, substantially together When not in use, as described. 10as described. In testimony whereof I affix my signature 3. In adoor-brace, the combination of the in presence of two Witnesses. 5bifurcated abutment 0, having the hooks c c, CHARLES HOFFMAN.

the link D hinged thereto the spur E hav- Witnesses:

ing notches e and e, and provided with the CHARLES LIFTCHILD, spring Fadapted to engage a notch at the end WVM. B. COWGILL.

